Tourniquets



Feb. 3, 1970 F. .1. cERAvoLoA TOURNIQUETS Filed Aug. l1, 196".`

FIG.

United States Patent 3,492,995 TOURNIQUETS Frank J. Ceravolo, 4701 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33308 Filed Aug. 11, 1967, ser. No. 659,923 Int. Cl. A61b 17/12; F16g 1.1/00

U.S. Cl. 128-327 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tourniquet comprising a block or body member that is recessed adjacent to one end to receive one end of a soft, tubular band or encircling member, such as a rubber tube or tube of similar characteristics. The opposite end portion of the block contains an eccentrically pivoted pawl having a serrated or roughened periphery and which engages the second end of the band between it and a pivoted clamping plate. The clamping plate acts to hold the end of the band between it and the pawl. A springbiased pivoted latching lever holds the clamping plate in band-engaging position, said lever permitting release of the end of the band when desired, by allowing swing of the clamping plate in a direction away from the pawl by the manual depression of the latching lever.

The present invention relates to medical or surgical tourniquets and has for one of its objects the provision of an article of this character which can be quickly, precisely and easily fitted in position on a patient; which will not pull hair, pinch the skin or otherwise cause discomfort to the patient.

It is an object of the invention to provide an article of this kind which can be arranged in its encircling position to apply the requisite firm pressure and which will remain at the desired tension for an indefinite time and will be found especially valuable in cases of so-called dry phlebotomy.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a low-priced tourniquet for everyday use in hospitals, clinics, doctors offices, laboratories, etc. to eliminate the old-fashioned type tourniquet which requires tedious, unstable knotting.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tourniquet so constructed that the encircling band can be readily replaced in case of breakage or for other reasons.

With these and other objects to be Ahereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

FIG. l is a plan view of a tourniquet constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the same as seen from below in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. l but with a portion shown in section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

lFIG. 4 is a view somewhat similar to FIG. l, but With some parts shown in section.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates the encircling band of the tourniquet which is conventionally placed around the required part of the body of a patient with the required tension. The band is preferably composed of a tubular, flexible, elastic material, such as soft rubber or plastic material of similar characteristics. One end of the band, or that indicated at 2, is disposed within a recess or opening 3 provided at one end of a block 4 which can be composed of metal or plastic material. A clamping screw 5 is threadable into the block to enter the recess 3,492,995 Patented Feb. 3, 1970 ICC or opening therein shown at 3, and it acts to clampingly hold the end 2 of the band 1 firmly attached to the block.

Near to the opposite end of the block is provided a pivotal pawl 6 having a serrated or roughened periphery 7. Said pawl is eccentrically pivoted in the block at 8 and has its peripheral surface 7 engaged by a spring 9 biasing the pawl toward a clamping plate shown at 11.

Adjacent to the pawl 6, the end of the block 4 is bifurcated to provide spaced arms 10 between which the clamping plate 11 is pivotally mounted at 12. Provided at 13 between the arms 10` of the block is a latching or locking lever 14 which is spring-biased by means of a spring 15 to cause it to overlie a flattened surface 16 on the end of the clamping plate 11 near its pivot 12. This arrangement is such that when t-he parts are in the position shown in FIG. l, the latching lever 14 holds the clamping plate 11 with its plane parallel to the axis of the pawl 6 so that the second end 2a of the tubular band, when placed between the roughened surface of the pawl 6 and the plate 11 will be firmly gripped between these parts and held thereby.

When the latching plate 14 is rocked as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 4 by finger despression on the raised part of the latching plate, to thereby swing it away from the clamping plate 11, said clamping plate can then be swung outwardly and away from the pawl 6, as is also shown in FIG. 4, to thereby permit the release of the end 2a of the band.

The arrangement described is such that the band may be quickly and accurately fitted about a limb of a patient and adjusted to the proper tension while the clamping plate 11 elevated away from the pawl, and the clamping plate is then pivoted to clamping position or that shown in FIG. 1 and is caused to firmly grip the band between it and the pawl. The clamping plate 11 may, if desired, be provided with a spring 20` to automatically swing it to outward or release position when the latching lever is depressed as heretofore explained.

The band is so engaged in the block by the parts thereof as herein described and which, when necessary, permit a quick detachment of the band from the block. Thus, in case of breakage of the band or for any other reason, a band can be very quickly replaced. Since the parts firmly engage the band without slippage, it follows that the band, when tensioned about a limb, will maintain the imposed tension indefinitely.

The clamp may, if desired, be provided with a clip or other attaching means for holding it in the pocket of a physician.

Having thus described a single embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A tourniquet comprising, a block, a band composed of elastic, compressible, tubular material, the block hav ing a recess into which a first end of the band is fitted and is held, a pawl eccentrically pivoted in the block, a clamping plate pivotally mounted in the block for clampingly maintaining the second end of the band between it and the pawl, a spring-biased locking lever mounted in the block and normally engaging the plate in a manner to hold the plate in its band-clamping position, said lever being manually movable to free the plate and permit it to be swung to band-releasing position.

2. A tourniquet according to claim 1, wherein a screw holds one end of the band in the recess, the pawl being spring-biased, the clamping plate having a flattened part engaged by the locking lever to thereby prevent rotative movement of the plate while the same has a portion of it overlying said flattened part.

3. A tourniquet according to claim 2, wherein the clamping plate is spring-biased whereby it was caused t pivotally spring away from the p-awl upon raising movement of the locking lever to thereby release an end of the band from between the clamping plate and the pawl.

4. A tourniquet comprising, a block having a recess near one end for the reception of one end of a band, a band composed of a soft, compressible tubular material having one end inserted in the recess, a screw entering the recess and clampingly holding the end of the band therein, a clamping plate pivotally mounted in the opposite end of the block and forming an abutment against which a second end of the band is clamped, a latching lever pivoted adjacent to the clamping plate and spring-biased to cause it to overlie one end of the plate to hold the plate against pivotal band-releasing movement, a gripping pawl eccentrically pivoted in the block and exposed out of the same adjacent to the clamping plate so that the second end of the band can be adjustably engaged between said pawl and the clamping plate, the clamping plate being swingable away from the pawl upon manual raising of the latching lever to thereby free the plate and permit it to be swung away from the pawl to permit the insertion of the second end of the band between the clamping plate and pawl or to permit the removal of the said end of the band from between the pawl and the A clamping plate.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,771,689 7/1930 Owen 12S-327 2,932,873 4/1960 Reichert 24-134 X 3,050,064 8/1962 Moore et al. 12S-327 FOREIGN PATENTS 308,211 10/1918 Germany.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner JOHN D. YASKO, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

